Strategic People Partner

About the role

You will act as the primary strategic advisor to senior leadership, translating complex business challenges into coherent people strategies that drive execution. You own the end-to-end management of critical employee relations cases, ensuring every resolution aligns with both legal compliance and the company's core values of trust and transparency. You will spearhead the design and evolution of our organizational structure, enabling departments to scale efficiently without losing their collaborative edge. This role requires you to build and sustain deep trust with leaders across the globe, positioning you as the indispensable bridge between executive intent and team reality. You will lead the development and delivery of leadership programs that cultivate a consistent, high-performing management culture from North America to EMEA. You will partner with Learning and Development to future-proof our leadership bench, ensuring managers have the tools and frameworks to navigate ambiguity with confidence. You will drive continuous improvement across performance management processes, coaching leaders on how to turn feedback into meaningful growth for their teams. Ultimately, you will safeguard the integrity of our employee experience by resolving sensitive issues with discretion, empathy, and unwavering adherence to policy.

Key facts

What you'll do

Define and execute the strategic agenda for leadership development across Oyster, working directly with department heads to identify capability gaps and future needs.

Champion organizational design initiatives, analyzing team structures and recommending changes that align with strategic objectives and improve operational throughput.

Lead complex employee relations investigations with complete autonomy, applying a fair and consistent approach to protect both employees and the company.

Drive the end-to-end performance management process, providing guidance on PIPs, performance reviews, and corrective actions while ensuring global policy compliance.

Partner with the Legal team to de-risk sensitive employee relations scenarios, translating legal requirements into practical people processes and communications.

Coach and mentor managers worldwide, helping them build a culture of trust, accountability, and enablement within their own teams.

Collaborate with the Learning and Development team to design, refine, and deliver training programs that enhance managerial effectiveness and leadership maturity.

Analyze workforce data and people metrics to inform strategic decisions, using insights to optimize headcount, structure, and employee lifecycle programs.

Serve as the central point of contact for all leadership and people strategy questions, synthesizing feedback and escalating critical issues to the executive team.

Promote a consistent global People culture by standardizing policies and processes while respecting regional nuances and regulatory requirements.

Build strong cross-functional relationships with People Experience, People Services, and other teams to ensure seamless collaboration and alignment on people initiatives.

Evaluate and recommend improvements to HR tools and systems, ensuring they support efficient processes and a positive employee experience.

Proactively identify emerging risks and opportunities within the employee lifecycle, presenting actionable recommendations to mitigate issues and drive engagement.

Act as an ambassador for Oyster's culture, demonstrating the behaviors of ownership, curiosity, and resilience in every interaction.

Requirements

You must have the legal right to work in the country where this role is based, and you must be eligible for full-time employment under that country's labor laws.

You must have at least 8 years of relevant full-time experience, with at least 4 years in a leadership or specialist People role.

You must have at least 4 years of experience partnering with executive leadership and influencing at the most senior levels of an organization.

You must have deep expertise in employee relations, including investigations, PIPs, and complex disciplinary matters.

You must have hands-on experience with performance management processes and the ability to coach leaders on execution and compliance.

You must have a strong understanding of employment law and HR best practices in at least one major North American or EMEA country.

You must be comfortable working in a fully remote environment and managing your schedule across asynchronous communication.

You must be comfortable with sensitive and confidential information, maintaining discretion and integrity at all times.

You must have strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex concepts into clear and actionable guidance.

You must be able to demonstrate a track record of building trust and driving change in a matrixed, cross-functional environment.

Nice to have

Experience with HRIS and ATS systems, especially Oyster's current stack.

Experience with global employment platforms and contractor management tools.

Prior experience working in a startup environment with high ambiguity and fast execution.

Knowledge of employment law and HR best practices in additional countries beyond your primary region.

Experience with data analytics and people metrics tools.

Practical notes

Time zone: Applicants must be based in a time zone between UTC+1 and UTC-5 to support US and EMEA stakeholders.

Full-time: This is a full-time position.

Remote: This role is fully remote, allowing you to work from home permanently.